Time Limit

"She liked it okay. She, well, she said it was confusing. Everyone was so short and so dark, so smelly and had bad teeth." Mr. Ronson was frowning.

"Yes, um, most people say that as their impression of the far past. It’s why we recommend only short hops back. It provides a better frame of reference. Ah. . ." Fred looked around the barren room again. "Did she, well see, ah anyone special while she was back there? You know the government won’t let us ask about, well, religion either, so you know. . ." Fred actually winked at Mr. Ronson.

"No, she couldn’t understand anything that anybody said. Except for some Roman soldiers. They were speaking some German dialectic."

Fred nodded his head. "Certainly, that’s what everyone says. It’s hard to know what is the real time period to shoot for. Time keeping has changed so much over the years."

"But what about me? Is the device broken? Why can’t I go back?" Mr. Ronson was trying to keep on track.

"Well, we can test that right now." Fred reached into the desk and pulled out a wooden ball about the size of his fist and a set of marker pens, various colors. He handed them over the desk to Mr. Ronson. "Use any color you like. Please write down today’s date and anything else you want."

Mr. Ronson took the materials questioningly, but proceeded to do as he was told. Along with the date he drew a smiley face. He held it up to show Fred.

"Certainly, good, whatever you like. What’s the time." Fred looked at his pocket computer. "14:24, okay put down 14:25 just to be safe and look over my shoulder to the first empty spot on the shelf behind the glass."

Mr. Ronson did as he was told again. He handed the ball to Fred. Fred then placed it on the desktop.

"Watch," said Fred. As he pointed to the first empty spot on the shelf, the ball Mr. Ronson had handed Fred appeared in that spot. Mr. Ronson looked down at the desktop. The ball was still there.

"But the ball is still here."

"In a moment, the Maintenance technician will come in and take this ball to your time device. He’ll send it back to 14:25 in that spot." There was a knock on the door. "See, there he is now." A white-coated male walked in and took the ball.

"It’s a trick." Mr. Ronson wasn’t a good conversationalist.

"Believe it or not, the device is functioning perfectly. So, you have to meet with one other person before you go." Fred got up to leave.

"But what about my trip?" Mr. Ronson began to stand. Fred waved him back in his seat.

"All will be explained with just a little patience from you. Just a little bit longer." Fred looked at his pocket computer then placed it back in his pocket. "Mr. Sudberry, from Temporal Regulation will be here in a moment to explain everything." Fred left as Mr. Sudberry entered. Mr. Ronson didn’t know if he was to stand for the greeting or not, but Fred had wanted him seated, so he sat.

"Hello, sir." Said Mr. Sudberry.

"Hello, sir, retrograde." Mr. Ronson attempted to lighten the mood with humor.

Mr. Sudberry frowned but sat down.

"It’s about my trip." Mr. Ronson tried assertiveness instead of wit this time.

"About your trip indeed." Mr. Sudberry took his pocket computer out. "It’s more about you."

"Me?" asked Mr. Ronson. "No, it’s about my trip to the past."

"There will be no trip to the past and it is about you." Mr. Sudberry won the assertiveness trails.